Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;Phaldotwel&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALDOTWEL’, particularly characterized by having yellow flowers, 2 peduncles, a peduncle that is long and moderate, leaves that are narrow oblong, and is propagated by tissue culture is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Phalaenopsis Hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘PHALDOTWEL’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALDOTWEL’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 60 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivar in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 12 to 20 cm to over 60 cm. The leavesmay be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes or panicles,often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning withthe lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, arethree-lobed and are often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow,and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which arisefrom the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants aredetached from the mother plants and may be planted in a suitablesubstrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDOTWEL’ is particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique yellow flowers, economical propagation by tissueculture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging andshipping to the market.

‘PHALDOTWEL’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted inBleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDOTWEL’ originated from a cross made in June2005 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The female parent is a yellowPhalaenopsis pot plant named ‘Anthura Gold’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.12,639), while the male parent is a white Phalaenopsis pot plant named‘00001-1749’ (unpatented). A single plant was selected in October 2008and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by meristem tissue culturein Bleiswijk, The Netherlands over a 3-year period. The new variety hasbeen found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successiveasexual propagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘PHALDOTWEL’ by tissue culture was firstperformed in September 2011 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar is firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Apr. 25, 2014. ‘PHALDOTWEL’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

1) Yellow flowers;

2) 2 peduncles;

3) Peduncle is long and moderate;

4) The shape of the leaf is narrow oblong; and

5) Plants are propagated by meristem tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, budsand foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotographs are of a 50-week old plant grown in a greenhouse inBleiswijk, The Netherlands in May 2014.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliageof ‘PHALDOTWEL’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALDOTWEL’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALDOTWEL’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALDOTWEL’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inBleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 50-week oldplants which were planted from tissue culture in 12 centimeter pots andgrown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continuedby a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks ina greenhouse of 21° C. Observations were made in May 2014. Colorreadings were taken under 4-6000 lux natural light in the greenhouse.Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis Hybrid.        -   Common name.—Phalaenopsis.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALDOTWEL’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Anthura Gold’ (U.S.            Plant Pat. No. 12,639).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘00001-1749’            (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.-   Plant:    -   -   Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—48            to 50 weeks for a 12 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, raceme to            panicle.        -   Height (including pot, including inflorescence).—51.0 cm to            61.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—25.0 cm to 30.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Grey-green-colored roots with branching            lateral roots having grey-green colored root tips.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 6 to 7 leaves are            produced before flowering Length (fully expanded): 12.0 cm            to 16.0 cm Width: 6.2 cm to 7.2 cm Shape: Narrow oblong Base            shape: Moderately elongated Apex: Unequal mucronate Leaf            blade angle with the petiole: Between 15 degrees and 30            degrees Leaf margin: Entire Color: Upper surface: RHS 146A            Lower surface: RHS 148B and 187A Texture: Rough Thickness:            2.2 mm to 2.6 mm Venation: Pattern: Parallel Color of the            midvein: Upper surface: RHS 187A Lower surface: RHS 187A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—2.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—10 to 14.        -   Length.—42.0 cm to 46.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—3.7 mm to 4.1 mm.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Aspect.—Upright to pendent.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Green-brown (RHS 148B and 187A).        -   Internode length.—30.0 mm to 40.0 mm.        -   Callosities.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 160.0 mm to            210.0 mm Diameter: 3.3 mm to 3.5 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 66.0 mm to 71.0 mm Diameter: 69.0 mm to 73.0            mm Depth of lip: 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 7 to 11 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Free Shape: Semi-circular Apex:            Emarginate and slightly asymmetric Margin: Entire Length            (from base to tip): 39.0 mm to 41.0 mm Width: 38.0 mm to            40.0 mm Color (when fully opened): Main color: Yellow (RHS            10C) At the base: Yellow (RHS 10C).        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic Margin: Entire Length (from            base to tip): 35.0 mm to 37.0 mm Width: 23.0 mm to 25.0 mm            Color (when fully opened): Main color: Yellow with light            shading (RHS 10C and 162B) At the base: Yellow with light            shading (RHS 10C and 162B).        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate Margin: Entire Length (from            base to tip): 35.0 mm to 37.0 mm Width: 22.0 mm to 24.0 mm            Color (when fully opened): Main color: Yellow (RHS 10C);            slightly dotted at the base (RHS 162B and 60A) At the base:            Yellow (RHS 10C); slightly dotted at the base (RHS 162B and            60A).        -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: Entire Length: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm            Width: 17.0 mm to 19.0 mm Whiskers: Present Length of            whiskers: Short.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type IV (as described in the            International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of            Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis) Color:            White-yellow dotted (RHS 155C, 14B and 59B).        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Between obdeltoid and ovate Color:            White-yellow dotted (RHS 155C, 14B and 60A).        -   Callus.—Color: Yellow dotted (RHS 17A and 60A).        -   Pedicel.—Length: 27.0 mm to 29.0 mm Diameter: 2.5 mm to 2.7            mm.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present.        -   Column.—Length: 10.0 mm to 12.0 mm Diameter: 4.6 mm to 5.6            mm Color: White/light lilac (RHS 155C and 69C).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2 Size: 0.9 mm to 1.1 mm Color: Orange            (RHS 26A).-   Ovary: Length: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm Diameter: 2.0 mm to 2.4 mm.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of 15° C. and a    high temperature about 30° C.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘PHALDOTWEL’ differs from female parent ‘Anthura Gold’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 12,639) in that ‘PHALDOTWEL’ has a taller plant height and widerpetals, whereas ‘Anthura Gold’ has a shorter plant height and thinnerpetals. Additionally, ‘PHALDOTWEL’ has a white-yellow dotted apical lobeof the lip, whereas ‘Anthura Gold’ has a yellow and greyed-orange apicallobe of the lip.

‘PHALDOTWEL’ differs from commercial variety ‘PHALDRAXIP’ (U.S. Plantpatent application Ser. No. 13/987,761) in that ‘PHALDOTWEL’ has smallerflowers and shorter whiskers of the lip, whereas ‘PHALDRAXIP’ has largerflowers and longer whiskers of the lip. Additionally, ‘PHALDOTWEL’ hasan obdeltoid to ovate shaped apical lobe, whereas ‘PHALDRAXIP’ has atrullate shaped apical lobe.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALDOTWEL’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.